TRACY, CA: On Sunday, April 24, the Northern California chapter of the Sant Nirankari Mission celebrated ‘Manv Ekta Diwas’ in Tracy, California by hosting a Blood Drive and free health camp. Delta Blood Bank, the local non-profit organization, conducted the blood drive. Also, for health camp doctors covering various specialties attended the camp and provided free consultation to patients.
The blood camp received an overwhelming response. 85 people registered and 65 units of blood were collected. The total blood collected exceeded everyone’s expectations, 50% more than the target. This will eventually save 200 lives. Around 70 patients got benefited by health camp as well.
Doctors who volunteered their precious time were Dr. Bhupinder Bhandari, Dr. Nelson Hue, Dr.
Attaullahkhan, Dr. Abhishek Sharma, Dr. Arora, Dr. Shefali Dham, Dr. Padmini Aggarwal, Dr. Jabeen Latif. Chiropractic Interns from lifewest health center Daniel Goodman, Boris Cicak, Keith also devoted their time for the health camp.
Representatives from the Delta blood bank as well as the volunteers of the Sant Nirankari Mission (sewadal) gathered at the Tracy Bhavan early in the morning to set up the blood camp and health camp. Snacks, fruits and juices were arranged for the blood donors.
In a hall, adjacent to the camp, satsang program (spiritual congregation) was conducted with screening of the message to mankind by the head of the Sant Nirankari Mission, His Holiness Baba Hardev Singh. He reinforced the importance of human unity.
Tracy Council member and Mayor Pro tem Robert Rickman attended the event and presented certificate of recognition to Sant Nirankari Mission for organizing free health fair and Blood drive. President of SNM USA, Dr. Iqbaljit Rai accepted the certificate on behalf of the mission. Dr Hanif Koya, member of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and owner of Fiji Sun newspaper attended the event as well.
The Sant Nirankari Mission today is one of the leading blood donating voluntary organizations in India.
Scores of blood donation camps are organized in the month of April every year. These camps are held as per the wishes of the present Spiritual Head of the Mission Baba Hardev Singh who said that donation of blood would be the best tribute to Baba Gurbachan Singh who sacrificed his life for the sake of Truth and human values. Moreover, blood donation is the best service one could offer to humanity.
When transfused in human veins blood knows no religion, caste or nationality.
The Sant Nirankari Mission is essentially a spiritual movement. Its principal commitment to its followers is to make their minds conscious of the Eternal Reality and unite their Soul with the Creator, the Formless God. The Mission believes that ignorance and superstition are the biggest obstacles in man’s path to real progress and happiness. Narrow-mindedness, hatred and pride brooded by them are the most vicious source of trouble for the mankind.
The Mission endeavors to remove the same by making spiritual enlightenment within the reach of every man and woman – young or old, rich or poor, high or low, educated or illiterate, whatever the language, faith or culture, whatever the state or the nation.
Prafull Lande
